The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-17
MUST HAVE MORE POWER
The Democratic State Committee Deter
mines to Suppress Warning Factions.
Politicians Favor an Early Convention and
Think 1t Will Be Unnecessary to Nominate
Voorhees, or Turpie for Governor


The Democratic State central and executive
committees vest erday. brought to the city but
few of the part y leaders aside from the members
of those organizations Governor Gray ex-
Senator Bell, of Fort Wayne; John 81. O'Neill,
of Washington; John E. Lamb, of Ter-e Haute,
and Green Smith were the most conspicuous
figures among the advisors. When the central
committee came together in the Hendricks
club-rooms in the afternoon, the Second, Fourth
and Tenth districts were unrepresented. j. G.
Shanklin. John W. Keen and W. FL. Wilkinson
held proxies. leaving Frank Burk, of the Third;
P Fl. Mccormick of the Fifth; D. W. Cham
bers of the Sixth; Samuel Hammil, of the
Eighth; Israel Curry, of the Ninth; w. II.
Harkins of the Eleventh, aud Daniel Melon
aid, of the Thirteenth, the regular committee
present. The executive committee was
represented by James II. Rice and S. r.
SheerIn. In the ante-room waited a few of the
local Democrats, after being requested TO leave
the committees alone in their council
Before this request was made, however. the
meeting had rather free-for- all character in
speeches of encouragement and predictions.
Ex-senator Bell, Lewis Jordan, j. G.. Shanklin,
John W. Kern, w. H. Wilkinson and Governor
Gray did the talking. Congressman-elect
y Neall ana JChn t. LArnD were silent. Iney
had no advice to offer, possibly no encourage
ment TO give and certainly nothing new politi-
cally to tell that they would like to have go to
the public. Governor Gray occupied about ten
minutes in explaining what he thought of the
situation. If harmony was only preserved the
party could no doubt attain victory. but by
all it was recognized that the Insane Hospital
management, the freaks of Green Smith and
the outrages in the Legislature last winter, for
which the Democratic party is responsible, with
internal troubles arising to disturb them, prom
ised anything but an easy campaign
1t said by others with the intention OF its
reaching tbs public ear that no matter how des-
perate the chances were or might be, any Demo-
crat of prominence would do for the guber-
material nomination. It was not necessary. they
thought, to force Senator Voorhees, or Judge
Turpie into a canvass they did not desire to
make. But il not said that growing in
huence, and one that it will be difficult to con-
troll has manifested itself in favor of the SEN
ator. AS James II. Rice has intimated that
Congressman Matson for Governor and Green
Smith for second place, ought to be ticket, one
readily understand why the voorhees, con-
tlngent was not assertive. Congressman Bynum
is a probable candidate, so is Judge Niblack, and
it is to be expected that exAuditor OF State Rice
will accept the nomination in the event of Mat
sons failure. But Mr.. Rice says he is training
for Congress in this district.
Bynum's candidacy would be likely to precp
itate a row. for those who bitterly opposed him
last year in his conflict with the English Bailey
faction have a better hold the governing
power of the committee than they then had. But
the Seventh district Congressman strenuously
asserts that Washington has more attractions
for him than the Governors rooms in the Capt.
toll. and it is not improbable that he will come
before the Democrats for a third term.
Through its experience last year with By num-
the committee has grown wise, and yesterday it
concocted a plan that is suggestive of a renewal
next year of the congressional trouble, with the
hope of again being called upon to settle the
nomination between Bynum and Bailey or some
other gifted and ambitious Democrat of the
anti-Bynum faction. If the opportunity comes
the committee wants to be in a position to de-
liver its decision cathedra, and not be forced
to stand on both sides of the question, it did
last fall, while the enemy carried off she plums
piness, dlscord and turmoil but with
the plan that is to be prepared
h in paa bout se dsa is smpg
of reorganization, to give the central COM
mttee absolute control all matters of
difference affecting county, legislative, con-
gressoDal and State candidates. If factions
arise IN any quarter the committeeman desire
to be the aroiters, with power to throttle the
wav. In settling these Questions a pro former
trial of course is to be had, and the victory will
naturally go to the faction that can influence
the jury. The executive committee in
structed to draft plan giving the central COM
mttse arbitrary power. It is to be ready for
the latter's approval at its next meeting. To
give sense of fairness. equality and democracy
to the proceeding the next State convention will
be called upon to ratify tho committees action
in this respect.
Osrensby the arbitrary power is desired for
the purpose of settling difficulties like those
listing in the Third and Twelfth districts In
the first-named the Democrats have two
gressional committees. legacy left over from
the campaign of last fall. One is known the
Scottsburg and the other the New Albany
committee. Next year. if something is not done
to squelch the other, it is doubtful which
organization will have the power call the
congressional convention. While the plan to
make the central committee the supreme
thority is being prepared, James H.
Rice has credentials to exercise
his persuasive powers liz getting
- Al Son ch,,vry ffna
to resign. Elkhart county, through the Balou-
Allison faction. caused Judge Lowry great
deal of agony in his for Congress. 1t is still
a disturb bling quantity, and it is this that brought
ex-senator Bell down with the hope of inducing
the State central commit teemen to use their au-
thority in squelching Baou and Allison. He
did not succeed, for it considered that as the
by the local leaders, in the absence of any
thing give the central committee absolute
control over local differe the breach might be
widened.
To place the party in good shape for desper-
ate struggle it suggested that ali doubts as
to who the candidates ought to be settled as
early as possible. An early convention on this
occur before May. Cevelands administration
was informally indorsed. the committeeman
unanimously expressing themselves in favor of
his reelection Mason j. Nlbiack, of Vim
cennes, elected to the vacancy in the COM
mttee caused by the resignation of Thomas
Buskirk, of the Second district. An adjourn
ment then ordered until the chairman
on the proposed plan for arbitrary power and to
call early convention.